Loving Zaro’s, now can we bring back the basil mayo at Create??
We write Stevens history HOBOKEN, NJ | SEPTEMBER 19, 2025
VOLUME CXXIII No. 2
The student newspaper of Stevens Institute of Technology, and creator of Attila the Duck. www.thestute.com TikTok @thestute Instagram @thestute facebook.com/stevensthestute NEW STUTE EVERY FRIDAY • EST. 1904
Stevens merges two admin divisions in response to budget cuts
Recipients respond to the Stevens Divest from War Initiative Letter
BY RISHI KUMAR PRABHAKAR, CONTRIBUTOR
BY THE STUTE
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ISABELLE VILLANUEVA FOR THE STUTE
Last semester, the Letter from the Student Body: Stevens Divest from War Initiative passed and was delivered to the recipients, which included President Farvardin, the Board of Trustees, and the school administration. The letter, which represents a culmination of student effort and student voice, has received a response from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Stephen T. Boswell, and President Farvardin. To provide context, the Stevens Divest from War Initiative (SDFWI) has been a student-led movement calling for the university to divest the school’s endowment from companies or investments that violate international law and human rights principles. Previously, SDFWI attempted to pass a proclamation via the Student
Zaro’s Family Bakery replaces campus Starbucks BY SOFIA STOECKEL, CONTRIBUTOR Each year, Stevens Dining decides what to change on its various menus, choosing which restaurants should be featured on the diverse lineup for students to enjoy each year. However, the process necessary to come to these decisions is not visible to the Stevens community. Madison
Stevens ACES pre-college program thrives after donation from J&J BY SERENA PANUCCI , NEWS EDITOR The Stevens Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science (ACES) program, founded in 2017, has recently received a $100,000 donation from Johnson & Johnson, strengthening its mission to support academically talented students pursuing careers in STEM fields. The donation will fund hands-on research opportunities and cover the participation of up to 30 students in Stevens’ Pre-College Summer Program during the summer of 2026, ensuring that more students gain the resources and guidance needed to succeed in engineering and science disciplines. Many ACES participants face challenges that extend beyond academics, such as financial instability, lack of access to STEM resources, or limited exposure to career opportunities. By providing support, ACES works to bridge these gaps. “We highlighted the strength of our pre-college programs by demonstrating that students not only
build valuable technical skills, but also develop greater confidence and resilience as they step into the STEM world,” said Edlyn Thompson-Mettle, Director of Undergraduate Outreach Programs at Stevens. “Recognizing that both are essential for long-term success, Johnson & Johnson chose to continue supporting this mission.” Since its founding, ACES has aimed to increase the number of academically talented students from all backgrounds who face financial hardships, allowing them to become future engineers, innovators, and leaders. The program provides scholarships, mentorship, and career-focused programs to both high school and undergraduate students. What began with partnerships at nine schools has grown to include 18 high schools across New Jersey and New York, including Brooklyn Technical High School, Hoboken High School, Science Park High School in Newark, and many more.
SEE ACES PAGE 3
NEWS (2-3)
SCIENCE (6)
FEATURE (4-5)
PULSE (10)
Zaro’s Family Bakery replaces campus Starbucks Learn about the Zaro’s Family Bakery and what they bring to Stevens! Academic Starter Pack Discover new study habits, how to ask for help, and gain advice from seniors looking back on their college experience.
Plastics and heart disease? Comets? NASA rocket program? Read about what’s going on in the world of science. Read answers from the Stevens community to our weekly Roving Reporter, plus solve our weekly puzzle and sudoku.
Goslin, Senior Marketing Specialist of Stevens Dining, provided insight into Zaro’s presence on campus and the process of collaborating with businesses at Stevens. When asked about the process of finding and determining a new Stevens vendor, Goslin claims that they have recently had great success partnering with Zaro’s at other campuses, and that the feedback from pre-
vious tastings at Stevens was “overwhelmingly positive,” making it a perfect fit for the campus community. Goslin noted that reception to Zaro’s at Stevens has been overwhelmingly positive. “The Zaro’s team was deeply involved in the entire process, which made the transition seamless. They are incredibly kind and invested in this partnership, and it feels like this location is truly an ex-
Stevens lays off 45 employees amid Trump’s ‘crackdown’ on international students BY AN LE, CONTRIBUTOR Ahead of the new academic year, Stevens has laid off 45 staff members, with officials citing the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict the enrollment of international students and affecting research funding. On June 9, President Farvardin announced the implementation of cost-cutting measures. Leading up to the layoffs, Farvardin and school officials carefully considered other possibilities to maintain the school’s finances. In The Stute’s email request for comment, Farvardin stated, “We spent the summer months analyzing our financial position, monitoring enrollment numbers, exploring alternatives, and consulting with leadership before concluding that workforce reductions were unavoidable.” Staff were notified of the layoffs on August 19 and 20, less than two weeks before the start of the Fall 2025 semester. These layoffs are a result of the ongoing federal changes under the Trump administration that
have placed more financial strains on U.S. higher education institutions. These challenges include the Trump administration’s efforts to limit the number of international students enrolled in U.S. colleges by targeting international students and student visas, discouraging many from considering U.S. colleges, reported CNN. Stevens has a great population of international students who have significantly contributed to Stevens’ budget, including funding for research. As of Fall 2024, Stevens has a total student population of over 8,400, of which 4% are international undergraduate students and 58% are international graduate students. As they are ineligible for federal financial aid, the Institute of International Education found that more than 3/4 of international students fund their education themselves and pay the full tuition. In 2023, international students contributed over $172 million to Stevens’ budget, enough
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tension of their family business,” she said. Additionally, when asked about the need for a business change, Goslin explained that there were yearly surveys for students to fill out about their dining experience, and that America’s Cup had consistently been ranked low for the last several years. “When we looked at total
SEE ZARO’S PAGE 2
Facing down budget constraints due to federal directives from the Trump administration, the Stevens Office of the President announced in July that two of the university’s divisions, namely, the Division of University Relations and the Division of Development and Alumni Engagement, would be merged into a single division, effective August 1, 2025. Stevens President Nariman Farvardin’s office also revealed, approximately a month later, that the division would be named the Division of University Advancement in a second announcement. “We believe that greater alignment among the functions represented in this new unit will yield even greater, more impactful results for Stevens and all the constituencies we serve,” wrote Farvardint. This decision also
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